There has been a great shift in church and ministry the last 10-15 years, but it is certainly coming more pronounced that the line between what’s been called “para-church” ministries and the local church is clearer! What I mean by that, in past years if you began a para-church or evangelistic ministry, it could be considered a threat to the local church or at least in “competition” with the local church paradigm at the time.

Thank God, there is a “bridging of the gap” as we grow in understanding that the local church (assembly/house) is the “birthing ground, the training center” where those that are added to the church are taught and established in the basics of the Christ-Life and who they are in Him. As we are seeing more and more the connection between the kingdom and the church, then we recognize that every area and facet of life is to be brought under the rule of Christ, not just the church!

We are seeing the church as the “corporate” body of Christ in a city/area/region, and seeing the “fivefold” or five-faceted ministry of Christ being restored to a “multiplicity of ministry”! This is causing our “wineskin” or structure to expand and not be so rigid as not to recognize that without divine order in the body of Christ, we will lose the precious oil and wine of the Spirit!

Sometimes we think too “idealistic”, saying that every local assembly must or should have the “fivefold” working in it. The bottom line is, the local church paradigm, as we know it, could not handle or facilitate this. Yet, there is a full five fold operation of the Holy Ghost in a city/region, and if joined together by the Spirit, every local assembly can tap into and receive the benefits from it. It will take both a “citywide eldership” of teaching and evangelistic pastors, as well as the mobile ministries of apostles and prophets, to prepare the saints to transition from “members to sons!”

What will the shift look like? Local training centers are expanding to apostolic kingdom centers, instructors or mentors shifting to an apostolic fathering dimension, and local church staffs to apostolic team ministries. It is here upon us. Every ministry is needed and every facet of body-building is needed, now let’s arise and ascend into divine alignment through the authority of Holy Spirit!

Then we can no doubt see CHRIST…”that upon this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. And I will you the keys of the kingdom of heaven…” (Matt. 16:18,19)

There is really no other way for the church that Jesus Christ is building to come into operation and function in a city without the power and authority of the Holy Spirit!!! We can ‘build’ our churches, our fellowships, our buildings, our programs, our people. But the church Jesus Christ is “building” will have the keys of the kingdom and will allow Him to be the head of the body, which is His church!  (Matt. 16;13-19; Eph.1:22,23; Col. 1:16-18) 

Heb. 3:1- Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,…
Heb. 3:4- For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God.

We have three great examples of the church being established in the book of Acts through the Holy Spirit: 1) The church in Jerusalem- the apostles and elders,and the Seven 2) the church in Antioch- certain prophets and teachers;  Sending forth of Paul and Barnabas into the apostolic, and 3) The church in Ephesus- The 12 elders/overseers…

1) The church in Jerusalem-
Acts 2:1-4- When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddendly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 2:42-47- And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

Acts 6:2-4- Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the HOLY SPIRIT and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; “but we will give ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

Acts 9:31- Then the church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the HOLY SPIRIT, they were multiplied.

Acts 11:22-24- Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as ANTIOCH. When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encourage them all that with purpose of heart they should continue in the Lord. For he was a good man, full of the HOLY SPIRIT and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.

2) The church in Antioch-
Acts 13:1-4- Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the HOLY SPIRIT SAID, “Now separate (set apart) to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. So, being sent out by the HOLY SPIRIT, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

Acts 13:13,14- Now when Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem. But when they departed to Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down.

Acts 13:43,44- Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.

Acts 14:25-27- Now when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed. Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

Acts 15:32-36- Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words. And after they had stayed there for a time, they were sent back with greetings from the brethren to the apostles. However it seemed good to Silas to remain there. Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.

3) The church in Ephesus:
Acts 19:1-10- And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to EPHESUS. And finding some disciples he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” Then Paul said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the HOLY SPIRIT came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.

vss. 7-10- NOW THE MEN WERE ABOUT TWELVE IN ALL. And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them concerning the things of the kingdom of God. But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

Acts 20:16,17- For Paul decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost. From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church.

vss. 28-32- “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the HOLY SPIRIT has made you overseers (bishops), to shepherd (feed/pastor) the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.

“Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”

The bottom line: Acts 28:30,31- Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, PREACHING THE KINGDOM of GOD and TEACHING THE THINGS CONCERNING the LORD JESUS CHRIST with all confidence, no one forbidding him.

When the ‘church in the city’ (the region) comes together with apostles and elders, prophets and brethren, saints with the whole church, teachers, pastors and evangelists, then we will see what shall follow after: miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments (administrations), tongues… (Acts 15:4,7,22; I. Co. 12:4-6; 27,28; Ephesians 4:11)

This is comes out of relationships birthed and developed in the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ our Lord.  When spiritual fathers and sons relate together, then the gifts and the calling of God can come with strength and balance.  Blessings…

JB

Revival must never become an end in itself, but a means to an even higher end—the glory of the Lord being revealed and His kingdom being extended…  (Rick Joyner, Morningstar Ministries)

 I saw this quote from Rick Joyner about revival and I had been thinking about that word this afternoon. I have being seeing some posts about some churches experiencing a hunger for more of God and having spontaneous services as a result! And then I talk to some pastors and see other posts about how they wish the people were hungry for more of God and nothing really happening.

I admittedly have not been a big fan of the term “revival” in the way that most use it, as in, “Let’s have a revival”, meaning let’s have a week of meetings where hopefully we will attract some new people and stir up the saints! For something to be ‘re-vived’, it first had to be ‘living, alive’, so to be revived it has to be “brought back to life, to come or bring back to a healthy, vigorous, or flourishing condition after a decline.”

My problem with that is:

1) we’ve made revival an evangelistic campaign to win the lost, when in fact, when the church is alive, new people are coming in regularly as a result of a living, vibrant, praying, worshiping house!
2) why must the church always be falling back, having to be stirred up, discouraged and lost there hunger for God in the first place?

I like the term we’ve been hearing the last few years to bring the church back to a living, joyful state and that is an AWAKENING! I ‘ve worked and ministered in all areas of church life, so I understand that in our local fellowships it’s difficult to keep people stirred up and motivated to stay on fire! But that could be the result of a wrong mindset because “the way you get them in, is the way you have to use to keep them in!”

When we have a healthy leadership team and saints are being equipped for ministry, that is, to serve, love, worship, pray, and give, etc., then the only motivation needed is to “encourage, inspire, and empower them in who they are and have ‘equipping evangelists’ as part of the team or coming in through relationship to exhort them!”

So, back to my point: Every local house, assembly or fellowship has a special dynamic to why they exist, what they are doing, and how will they fulfill their assignment or mission! It was said of William Branham, the revivalist of the 40’s and 50’s, that the Lord spoke to him, “If you can only get the people to believe you, then nothing is impossible to them!”

Why does one church experience a sovereign move of God in their midst and others do not? I believe and see that it is exactly that, a “sovereign move of the Holy Spirit brought about by an intense, supernatural desire that ignites a spontaneous combustion through a blend of a spiritual DNA or chemistry that cannot be denied!”

And that should lead us on a continual journey of following after the Lord, that should lead us right into His manifest presence and the glory of the Lord. ..